The Ultimate Go-kart Racing Quiz

Go-karting may seem like child's play, but there's much more to this sport than racing around in your back yard. Many professional racers got their start behind the go-kart wheel and the sport doesn't show any signs of slowing down. Think you can handle one of these small speed-demons? Take the ultimate go-kart quiz to find out!

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Question 1 of 20

First things first, what's the acceptable way to refer to go-kart racing if you want sound like you're in-the-know about the sport?

Kart-wheeling

Karting

The World Karting Association, or WKA, says it's best to drop the "go" prefix and just call the sport karting. We all know they move fast, the "go" is just a given.

G-karting

Question 2 of 20

All sports have a beginning and karting is no different. Which year did karting make its debut in the United States?

1956

The first kart was built in 1956, but it wasn't the only thing that became a hit that year. Elvis Presley got on the U.S. music charts with "Heartbreak Hotel" the same year.

1957

1958

Question 3 of 20

Someone has to be credited with this amazing motorsport! Take a gander at these fellows below and choose the inventor wisely.

Art Linkletter

Art Ingels

Art Ingels built the first kart and kick-started a whole new motorsport genre. The World Karting Association now boasts more than 10,000 members.

Johnny Kartson

Question 4 of 20

There are more than just a few professional race-car drivers who got their start in karting. Which of the two race-car icons below first started their career with karting?

Danica Patrick

Jeff Gordon

Both of these racers

Karting is one of the best ways to start a professional racing career. Both Danica Patrick and Jeff Gordon first started their racing careers in karting.

Question 5 of 20

There are three different types of karts raced today. But one is the most widely used and can compete on several different types of tracks and different race styles. Which kart is it?

Enduro

Oval

Sprint

Sprint karts are the most versatile of all the karts and by far the most widely used in races. If you're looking to pick one up for yourself, start saving your pennies. Sprint karts cost around $2,000 to $5,000.

Question 6 of 20

What is the average speed range for karts?

25 to 45 miles per hour (40.2 to 72.4 kilometers per hour)

45 to 80 miles per hour (72.4 to 128.7 kilometers per hour)

The average range of speed for karts is 45 and 80 miles per hour (72.4 and 128.7 kilometers per hour), but some karts can go faster than 100 miles per hour (160.9 kilometers per hour).

80 to 120 miles per hour (128.7 to 193.1 kilometers per hour)

Question 7 of 20

Which part is purposefully missing from all racing karts?

Suspension

Racing karts don't have a suspension. Just strap yourself in and get ready for a wild ride!

Brakes

Steering column

Question 8 of 20

About how much horsepower do kart engines usually produce?

2 to 10 horsepower

5 to 30 horsepower

Depending on the type of engine, kart engines average 5 to 30 horsepower. This may not sound like much until you start reaching speeds near 80 miles per hour (128.7 kilometers per hour). Not to mention you're just inches off of the ground.

10 to 50 horsepower

Question 9 of 20

Yard work can be tedious, so why not make something fun out of it, literally? The first kart engine was a repurposed engine from which type of yard equipment?

Gas-powered hedge trimmer

Lawnmower

The first kart engines were repurposed lawnmower engines. It was good news for the first karts, bad news for the yard-of-the-month homes. Nowadays, kart engines are built specifically for karts from a number of manufacturers.

Gas-powered weed trimmer

Question 10 of 20

In order to increase aerodynamics what do drivers of enduro karts do?

Sit in a hunched-over motorcycle position

Lather their racing suit up with cooking oil

Lay flat on their backs

Laying down on the job pays off for enduro kart racers. The increased aerodynamics allows the karts to reach speeds averaging well over 90 miles per hour (144.8 kilometers per hour).

Question 11 of 20

Sprint karts are the most prolific type of kart, which also means that their tracks are the most used as well. What is the average length for sprint tracks?

1/8-mile to 1/4-mile (.2- to .4-kilometer)

1/4-mile to 1/2-mile (.4- to .8-kilometer)

Most sprint kart tracks are 1/4-mile and 1/2-mile (.4 and .8-kilometers) in length. Tracks designed for sprint karts will always have left and right hand turns as well.

1/2-mile to 1-mile (.8- to 1.6-kilometer)

Question 12 of 20

Kart tracks can be found in what part of the United States?

Southeast

Midwest

Entire United States

If you're thinking about getting involved in karting, you're in luck! Kart tracks can be found throughout the entire United States.

Question 13 of 20

How many tracks does the World Karting Association have throughout the United States?

25

50

Over 100

If you haven't found a track to race your kart at, you're just not looking! There are over 100 World Karting Association tracks throughout the United States.

Question 14 of 20

Sprint, oval and enduro karts all have different ways of measuring winners of a race. For spring karts, how many heat laps do drivers usually have to compete in for a race?

1 to 5 laps

5 to10 laps

10 to 15 laps

There's a reason why they call them sprint karts, and it's not just for their speed. These karts might not compete in the longest races, but they have to do about 10 to 15 heat laps.

Question 15 of 20

Which type of kart has its races on tracks like the Daytona International Speedway?

Sprint

Enduro

Not only are enduro karts the fastest, they also get to ride on professional racing tracks like the Daytona International Speedway. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!

Oval

Question 16 of 20

Oval karts have a chassis specifically designed to turn in how many directions?

One direction

Oval karts don't have a broken steering wheel, but these karts are designed to turn in only one direction. The chassis is built to withstand tight and almost constant force from one direction.

Two directions

Neither -- the karts only go straight.

Question 17 of 20

Karting is family sport. Kids as young as 5 years old can participate in karting; but at what age do official competitive races begin?

6

7

8

Competitive races for kids start at age 8. So while some kids are staying at home studying their multiplication tables, others are out learning how to race high-performance machines. After-school program anyone?

Question 18 of 20

How long did it take before official rules for kart racing were published after the first kart was built?

1 year

Time flies when you're having fun! But it only took one year for official kart racing rules to be published by the International Kart Federation once the first kart was introduced.

5 years

7 years

Question 19 of 20

Karting tracks can be made out of which type of surfaces?

Soft dirt, asphalt and packed clay

Karting can run on a number of different types of tracks, but ice and gravel roads don't make the cut. Kart races are typically held on soft dirt, asphalt or packed clay depending on the race and type of kart.

Soft dirt, gravel roads and packed clay

Soft dirt, asphalt and ice

Question 20 of 20

Step right up, folks, and guess the kart weight! The average kart weighs about how much without the driver?

150 pounds (68 kilograms)

Always remember that less weight equals more speed! The average kart weighs about 150 pounds (68 kilograms) without the driver.